• • We are open by appointment only for ALL services, this includes check ups and jewelry purchases.
  • You must be 18 years old and provide a currently valid ID to get a tattoo, no exceptions.
  • We do offer piercings for children under 18; a parent or legal custodial guardian must be present for the entirety of the appointment and must provide a currently valid ID and sign a legal release document with us before the procedure.
  • The age ranges for piercings under 18 are as follows: Infant 3-9 months, Child 5-6, Child 7-13, Child 14-18.
  • We do not allow guests at children’s piercing appointments, this includes siblings and other children who may wish to accompany the child as a “guest”. While we do offer children’s services, their time in the studio is highly monitored and controlled. Since we have biohazard areas and delicate equipment throughout the studio, this is an environment we need to be very careful in and we would never want to endanger our clients, their children, or our staff.

   

  • If you are OVER 18 you must have your OWN currently valid ID to get a piercing; a parent or guardian may not show us theirs, it must be your own ID.
  • We always pierce with single use needles, never piercing guns.
  • We are not offering tandem piercings at this time.
  • We do not offer repair services for ripped piercings

   

  • We accept cash, credit, debit, and mobile payments. Credit, debit, and mobile payment options have a $5 service fee. We also have an ATM available in the lobby for clients to use!
  • Cash is always easiest for us to process, and we use it to tip out our piercers at the end of the night, so anytime you can pay in cash is always great for us!
  • The appointment fee is used to cover the cost of PPE used during your visit and goes directly to the shop, not the piercer. This fee is non-refundable and does not go towards any services.

• • To book an appointment head to https://the-exotic-body.square.site/ or click BOOK NOW from our Instagram page @theexoticbody or our Facebook page The Exotic Body.
  • We cannot book appointments over the phone or via email/social media, you’ll need to enter your personal info for the appointment as well as payment info for the appointment fee.
  • If there are no listed time slots for a particular day listed it means we are fully booked for that day, cancellations are rare and typically happen with short notice, so we are unable to keep a waitlist for daily appointments. We’re rarely more than 3-4 days booked out, so you’ll likely be able to find an appointment within the week. We cannot “squeeze in” between other clients, everyone needs to be allowed the full 30 minutes they booked.
  • To see a list of currently offered services please check out our pricing page
  • Appointment slots are 30 min long and include the time necessary for your piercer to perform an anatomy check, choose jewelry, discuss aftercare, take care of payment, and perform the actual piercing.
  • We can typically perform 3-4 piercings per appointment slot on a single client. Please keep in mind that more difficult piercings or piercings where it may take the piercer time to make sure their markings are precise may take more time and may require more than one appointment if you wanted to get multiple of these piercings. For example if you wanted to come in and get paired high nostrils and additional ear piercings we would recommend two appointment slots to ensure nobody feels rushed. If you have any questions about what kinds of appointments you’ll need to book please reach out, we’re happy to help!
  • If you need to edit your appointment or make changes try using the Square Appointments app or click “view details” in the messages sent to you to confirm your appointment. If you have any trouble with this step please reach out, we can make changes on our end to already booked appointments!

   

   

   

  • If you are looking to purchase jewelry you’ll need to book a jewelry purchase appointment, you can find this appointment type listed with all of the piercing type options on our appointments page (https://the-exotic-body.square.site/)
  • We cannot accept walk-ins for jewelry purchases. Piercing jewelry is not one size fits all. A piercer must be available to assist you to ensure your jewelry is the appropriate size and shape for your individual anatomy and we will need time to sterilize the jewelry.
  • If you need to replace lost jewelry that was previously purchased from us we can arrange a porch pickup, just keep in mind that with a porch pickup the jewelry will be boxed up and given to the client, not installed. If you would like assistance with installing the jewelry you would need to book a jewelry purchase appointment.
  • The Exotic Body is not responsible for LOST jewelry. If there is a problem with the jewelry, like the pin breaks or a stone falls out, we would be happy to get a replacement or send the item in for repairs (this process varies brand to brand), but it is YOUR responsibility to make sure the ends stay tight, so make sure you’re checking your jewelry regularly!
  • If your jewelry that was purchased from us breaks PLEASE reach out as soon as it happens so that we can get it repaired or replaced. You’ll need to bring the broken jewelry in with you so that we can send it back to the manufacturer for repairs, so hang on to it!
  • We offer jewelry removal services if you need assistance getting jewelry out. If the jewelry is not from our shop there is a $10 removal fee. If you are having a dermal piercing removed there is a $50 removal fee, including dermal piercings that were performed here; removing these types of piercings is a procedure itself!
  • If you are booking an appointment to purchase glass retainers for a medical procedure you would want to book a “jewelry purchase” appointment. If the jewelry you need replaced is not from our shop there is a $10 removal fee. There is no fee for removing jewelry purchased from us. There is no fee to re-insert jewelry. We cannot re-insert outside jewelry.

   

  • We ask that clients reschedule or cancel their appointments no less than 3 hours prior to their appointment. You can reschedule or cancel your appointment via the Square Appointments app, the Square Appointments website, or through the confirmation messages sent at the time the appointment was accepted, by clicking “view details”. If you have any trouble re-scheduling please reach out!
  • If you are more than 5 minutes late to your appointment we will be unable to see you. We need the full 30 minutes of your appointment to allow time for the piercer to perform an anatomy check, choose appropriate jewelry, sterilize the jewelry and set up a room while you’re taking care of paperwork, and perform the piercing. Nobody wants a rushed piercing!
  • We can currently allow one guest to accompany each client to their appointment, with the exception of minors (see general shop policies above for details). Our guest policy may change as our Covid policies change, but for now we are sticking to one guest.
  • Minors may not accompany clients as “guests”. All minors in the shop must be constantly supervised by their parent or legal custodial guardian for the entirety of the time they are in the shop. We cannot be responsible for children waiting in the lobby and cannot allow children in the piercing rooms if they are not the person being pierced. Children may not be held by a person who is getting a piercing. We have many biohazards and delicate equipment in the studio, so safety is of the utmost importance; we would never want to endanger the lives or health of our clients, their children, or our staff!
  • Have a vacation or event coming up? Sports seasons starting? You shouldn’t remove your jewelry for the entirety of the healing period and we recommend clients avoid swimming while healing their piercings, so make sure to consider any other plans you may have that could be a detriment to healing your piercing and plan your appointments around these things! If you have questions about scheduling around sports seasons or vacations please reach out!

   

  Ways you can prep for your appointment:

  • It’s VERY important that you arrive at your appointment having eaten and hydrated! We ask that clients eat within 4 hours of their appointment to make sure you’re feeling your best for the piercing.
  • Plan ahead to account for possible traffic, having a downtown location means traffic is very unpredictable and events shut down portions of streets regularly.
  • Think about the piercing(s) you’ll be receiving and dress appropriately. If you’re getting a piercing that would require you to undress partially it’s always a good idea to wear clothing that can be easily removed and don’t wear too many layers. Don’t wear white if you are getting a piercing that has a tendency to spot bleed, like genital piercings or nipple piercings.
  • Think about what jewelry you might like to see in your piercing; we have a massive selection, with thousands and thousands of different pieces, and new ones coming in all the time! The more info you can give your piercer regarding the visual aspect of your piercing the easier it will be for them to pull pieces for you. If you’d like to check out some of the jewelry/brands we carry, check out our Instagram @theexoticbody where we have lots of photos of jewelry, both on and off of clients.
  • If you experience any Covid symptoms, or are feeling generally unwell, prior to your appointment please reach out to us as soon as possible so we can reschedule you to another date.

• • Piercing fee prices vary per type of piercing and are priced individually (For example if you would like to get each earlobe pierced the cost would be $40 each, for a total of $80, plus jewelry.)
  • Appointments for piercings that are often done in pairs (i.e. nipples, earlobes, etc.) can be done in a single appointment.
  • Appointment slots are for ONE client only, regardless of the number of piercings performed. Each individual client must have their jewelry sterilized alone and we still have to set up piercing stations for each client, so we will need the entirety of your appointment to take care of all of that with you.
  • Appointment fees are not a deposit, are not applied to any services and are non-refundable; we use these fees to cover the rising costs of PPE and sanitation supplies.
  • If you do not cancel or reschedule your appointment within 3 hours of the appointment start time your appointment fee will NOT be refunded.

   

   

  Currently Offered Services-

   

  • Infant Ear Lobe 3-9 mos $50, Plus Jewelry Each
  • Child Ear Lobe 5-6: $50 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Child Ear Lobe 7-14 $50 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Child Ear Lobe 14-17 $40 Plus Jewelry Each

   

  • Ear Lobe: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Rook: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Tragus: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Anti-Tragus:$40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Daith: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Conch: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Helix: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Snug: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Industrial: $50 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Orbital: $40 Plus Jewelry Each

   

  • Nostril: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Septum: $50 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Bridge: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Eyebrow: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Lip: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Monroe: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Labret: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Vertical Labret: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Philtrum: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Tongue: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Tongue Webbing: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Scrumper/ Smiley: $40 Plus Jewelry Each

   

  • Navel: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Nipple: $40 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Surface: $50 Plus Jewelry Each
  • Dermal Anchors: $50 Plus Jewelry Each

   

   

  Jewelry Pricing-

  • Jewelry pricing varies greatly from piece to piece. Metal type, stone type, brand, and size all play a part in how piercing jewelry is priced. There is no universal size or piece that will work for everyone for any
  • The Exotic Body specializes in gold jewelry, so we have the most options available in either yellow, rose, or white gold; we also carry implant grade titanium pieces.
  • We have a massive jewelry collection, featuring everything from simple titanium barbells to Swarovski stones, gold and diamond pieces, classic gold hoops, and beautifully designed gold pieces featuring stones like opals, amethyst, topaz, sapphire- even custom orders are available!
  • Due to state laws, we can only use jewelry purchased from The Exotic Body; no outside jewelry is permitted. We only purchase from the highest quality vendors where we can verify the quality of the materials used.
  • Check out our Instagram @theexoticbody to see examples of some of the jewelry/brands that we carry- and, as always, feel free to reach out with any questions you may have!
  • Found a piece from one of the brands we carry that you’ve fallen in love with? Reach out to see if we have it in stock! If we don’t we can typically arrange to have the piece ordered (availability varies by brand)
  • Custom orders are available from several of our brands! If you have a vision for a jewelry piece and a little bit of patience we can arrange a custom order for you! This process can take several months to complete, depending on the specifics of the item you were interested in, so please reach out if you’d like to get started! Please keep in mind that if you decide to cancel a custom order once it has been sent to the manufacturer for processing you are required to pay a 15% cancellation fee per item.

  General Jewelry Prices Guidelines-

  

Jewelry Pricing-

• Jewelry pricing varies greatly from piece to piece. Metal type, stone type, brand, and size all play a part in how piercing jewelry is priced. There is no universal size or piece that will work for everyone for any
• The Exotic Body specializes in gold jewelry, so we have the most options available in either yellow, rose, or white gold; we also carry implant grade titanium pieces.
• We have a massive jewelry collection, featuring everything from simple titanium barbells to Swarovski stones, gold and diamond pieces, classic gold hoops, and beautifully designed gold pieces featuring stones like opals, amethyst, topaz, sapphire- even custom orders are available!
• Due to state laws, we can only use jewelry purchased from The Exotic Body; no outside jewelry is permitted. We only purchase from the highest quality vendors where we can verify the quality of the materials used.
• Check out our Instagram @theexoticbody to see examples of some of the jewelry/brands that we carry- and, as always, feel free to reach out with any questions you may have!
• Found a piece from one of the brands we carry that you’ve fallen in love with? Reach out to see if we have it in stock! If we don’t we can typically arrange to have the piece ordered (availability varies by brand)
• Custom orders are available from several of our brands! If you have a vision for a jewelry piece and a little bit of patience we can arrange a custom order for you! This process can take several months to complete, depending on the specifics of the item you were interested in, so please reach out if you’d like to get started! Please keep in mind that if you decide to cancel a custom order once it has been sent to the manufacturer for processing you are required to pay a 15% cancellation fee per item.

What does “downsizing” mean? Why is it necessary?

We start most piercings out with a larger piece of jewelry than most clients will want to wear in their healed piercings, to accommodate for swelling that occurs with a fresh piercing. After about 6 weeks, once initial swelling is down for a period of days, you should come in to change the jewelry to a more appropriate size to prevent the piercing healing at an angle, snagging the larger jewelry, etc.

Why can’t I start out my piercing with a ring?

With the exception of a few piercings (like septum and daith piercings) we start all of our piercings off with a stud. Studs are generally considered easier to heal with than rings for several reasons. Most piercings will need to start with a larger size jewelry than most clients will wear in their healed piercings, the ring sizes we would need to use to accommodate swelling are large enough that they have a much higher tendency to get caught and snagged during daily wear. Rings also apply pressure to two spots on the piercings, instead of a single pressure point that is created with a stud style.

Can I bring in my own jewelry?

We do not allow clients to bring in outside jewelry. The APP has very stringent guidelines regarding what types of metals can and cannot be used in studios with their certification. We must be able to verify at the manufacturing level the quality of the jewelry being used. Most fashion jewelry available to clients is not considered body safe and is often the wrong size for long term wear in the body. We also use autoclave sterilization machines in our studio and most fashion jewelry cannot be autoclaved, meaning we could not sterilize it before use. If you have jewelry that is from a brand that we carry that was purchased at another studio you can reach out to verify that we would be able to install that piece for you, but please be aware that we will not install jewelry that has scratches, bends, or is marred in any way, as these imperfections can cause bacteria buildup and lead to infection and healing issues.

Can I bring in jewelry that I previously purchased from The Exotic Body?

A fresh backing must be used in any new piercing, but the tops can be reused. Any jewelry, including tops and backings, that has been previously purchased from us can be removed and installed into other healed piercings, as long as the jewelry does not have scratches, bends, or is marred in any way, as these imperfections can cause bacteria buildup and lead to infection and healing issues. A fresh backing must be used in any new piercing. Rings can only be reused in healed piercings. Seam rings that have been bent out of and back into shape multiple times do tend to eventually lose their shape, so we wouldn’t recommend clients do this a lot; if you want a ring style that better accommodates being moved between piercings we would recommend a clicker style.

Can I come in to browse your jewelry before my appointment?

We have a small selection of jewelry in our lobby cases, but the bulk of our collection is located in our jewelry room, which is only accessible to clients who are accompanied by a staff member. Our front counter staff is not trained to sell jewelry to clients, with the exception of grabbing a quick replacement for something already purchased and on file from a previous appointment and they cannot install jewelry on a client. We can sometimes arrange a porch pickup if you know exactly what you will need (metal type, stone type and size, size specifications including gauge size, length, and diameter, threaded or threadless style, etc.) or are purchasing a replacement for something previously purchased from us that we can look up in your file. In the case of a porch pickup we will be unable to install the jewelry for you, so be sure you feel confident in your ability to install the jewelry yourself without breaking or losing it. We offer jewelry purchase appointments where you will have time to browse our collection with the help of a piecer so we can ensure you find suitable jewelry for your piercing. You do not need to book a jewelry purchase appointment when coming in to get a new piercing, the time necessary to choose jewelry is included in your appointment time. We also have an Instagram page with hundreds of photos of jewelry we carry, both on and off clients, so you can look for pieces and get a general idea of our collection there!

Should I book a jewelry purchase appointment in addition to my piercing appointment if I need to pick something out to be pierced with?

Piercing appointments include time necessary to perform an anatomy check, choose and sterilize jewelry and perform the piercing. We have timed out our appointments to have plenty of time for all of the steps necessary for a new piercing, so there’s no need to have an additional appointment for choosing jewelry.

California law regarding piercing states that any person under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal custodial guardian. Aunts and uncles, grandparents, siblings, and family friends do not count, even if they were given permission by the parent/guardian. There are no exceptions. We cannot accept written notes, phone calls, emails, or video calls, the parent/guardian MUST be present for the entirety of the appointment and be actively supervising their child. The parent must also be able to provide a currently valid photo ID and fill out a legal release document where you will need to designate your relationship to the child.

Non-earlobe piercings available to minors-

• Upper cartilage (no industrials) 14+
• Nostril 14+
• Septum 14+
• Eyebrow (traditional only, no surface or dermal) 14+
• Navel 16+

Absolutely no nipple or genital piercings offered for minors, even with parent permission; It is the law! 

• Why don’t you offer certain piercings for minors?

We love being able to work with children and teens to help them have a safe, professional piercing experience. Not all piercings are suitable for younger clients and each of those piercings has its own reasons. Nipple and genital piercings are absolutely not offered and are illegal for children and teens to receive, no exceptions, ever. We do not offer Industrial piercings to minors. Industrial piercings are some of the hardest piercings to heal, even for adults, so we do not feel that minors are typically capable of healing these types of piercings well. If your child has already received and healed several upper cartilage piercings very, very well, you may reach out to discuss an industrial piercing with one of our piercers, but they may still decline the piercing if they do not feel the child is ready; keep in mind that we rarely make this exception. We do not offer oral piercings to minors. Oral piercings are not easy to heal, require constant care, and often do damage to teeth and gums, we feel that clients should wait until they are 18 years old before getting oral piercings (and do plenty of research beforehand, so you know what to expect as far as care and potential oral damage).

• Minors may not accompany clients as “guests”. All minors in the shop must be constantly supervised by their parent or legal custodial guardian for the entirety of the time they are in the shop. We cannot be responsible for children waiting in the lobby and cannot allow children in the piercing rooms if they are not the person being pierced. Children may not be held by a person who is getting a piercing. We have many biohazards and delicate equipment in the studio, so safety is of the utmost importance; we would never want to endanger the lives or health of our clients, their children, or our staff!

• Please see our FAQ regarding kids appointments and piercing before booking an appointment for your child and please give us a call if you have any more questions!

• • Aftercare is the most crucial step in successfully healing a new piercing! Putting in the effort to keep your body healthy and your piercings clean is a huge task, even the fastest healing piercings take at least a month, while others can take upwards of 9 months, so make sure you are committed to putting in the work for a solid amount of time when considering a new piercing.
  • The conversation surrounding aftercare is ever evolving as we learn new and safer techniques within the piercing industry! Here at The Exotic Body, continued education is an important part of our piercers’ careers; we believe in always doing our utmost to be informed, up to date, and accurate in the information we’re giving our clients.
  • Our number one source for up to date information is safepiercing.org. Check out this amazing resource if you’d like to do any of your own research regarding piercing!
  • If you lost your aftercare card that you were given at your appointment you can access a digital copy with the same information at exoticbody.com/carebasic or you can always reach out to one of our staff for a refresher!
  • Aftercare needs can differ from one region and climate to another and not all products are widely available, discuss your specific needs with your body piercer, especially if you are coming into the shop while traveling!

   

   

  • We recommend that our clients wash once a day with a mild, unscented soap. Soap will be able to break down any biological materials that are on/around the piercing.
  • Most piercings will need more than one cleaning in a day; especially in the beginning stages, but using soap too often can dry out the skin in the area and inhibit the healing process. To prevent this, we recommend additional cleanings be done with a sterile saline wound wash once or twice a day (not nasal or eye care saline, they are similar, but different products!)
  • If you notice that your piercings need additional cleaning: maybe they get snagged, you notice they have some crusty buildup, or they bleed a little, you can flush them with your saline wash. While using the soap too often can lead to overdrying, you can use as much sterile saline solution as you need to keep the piercings clean, it won’t hurt them!
  • If you wash your piercings in the shower it is best to do so as your last step, so that dirty water from cleansing your hair/body doesn’t wash back into the piercing.
  • You shouldn’t use items like cotton swabs or washcloths to clean the piercings, the fibers from these types of items often get snagged and wrapped around the jewelry, which can cause irritation.
  • We don’t recommend using soaps that are labeled as antibacterial or antimicrobial, as these are generally too strong to use on a fresh piercing. Additionally if you use a bar soap we would recommend using the bar to transfer soap onto your fingers and use those to apply the suds instead of using the whole bar on your piercings.
  • We NEVER recommend clients mix their own salt water solutions to use in place of wound wash. There is no way to make sure the water, soap, and the bowl itself are sterile and you wouldn’t want any debris/particles to get into your mixture and cause an infection. Sterile wound wash is a pre-mixed ratio of purified USP grade water and pure sodium chloride in a fixed ratio. If you don’t get the ratios of water to salt correct you run the risk of burning the flesh around the piercing and accumulating a buildup of salt crystals in the entrance or exit points of the piercings, which can cause major issues to both the health of your piercings and your body.
  • The brand of sterile saline that we carry is NeilMed wound wash for piercing aftercare. You can always stop by during regular business hours to pick some up, you don’t need an appointment! NeilMed is widely available online from major retailers like Amazon, Target, Walgreens, etc.
  • The brand of soap that we carry is Dr. Bronners unscented castile baby soap. You can always stop by during regular business hours to pick some up, you don’t need an appointment! Dr. Bronners is widely available both through their website, and at places like Whole Foods, Amazon, Target, etc.
  • You should only touch your piercings with CLEAN hands! Including just a quick adjustment! Touching your piercings is the #1 way piercings become infected!
  • When cleaning your piercings it is super important that you are fully removing any buildup on the jewelry. You can gently manipulate the jewelry in order to get behind it and make sure it’s clean.
  • You should never ‘soak’ your piercings. Occasionally we will suggest that a client use a warm (not hot!) compress on their piercings to help soften dried on blood or buildup that is difficult to remove with just washing, but the compress should only stay on your piercing for a few minutes (no longer than 5) and the piercing needs to be dried VERY WELL so there is no residual moisture around the area. You don’t need to do this unless your piercer specifically suggests this aftercare step, we mention it only to steer clients away from fully soaking their piercings.
  • Alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Betadine, Hibiclens, harsh soaps, and/or ointment(s) are not appropriate products for the care of a healing ear or body piercing. You should not be using topical products like neosporin or aquaphor on your healing piercings.
  • You should never apply essential oils to healing piercings
  • Exercise is fine during healing your piercings, just be sure to do a thorough cleaning immediately after and remember to be mindful not to knock into the piercings or use equipment that has the possibility of snagging, catching, or ripping your jewelry out. Listen to your body! If you find certain stretches, moves, or poses put pressure, rub or irritate the piercing area in any way you should refrain from that specific exercise until further along in the healing process.
  • Make sure your bedding and clothing are kept clean while healing your piercings and be mindful of materials that may be fibrous or snaggy, like sherpa or lace.
  • Swimming is not advised while healing your piercings, especially in public pools/hot tubs and natural bodies of water like lakes and rivers. If you must swim while healing a piercing it is crucial that you do a thorough cleaning immediately after exiting the water and ensure your piercings are well dried.
  • Showers tend to be safer than baths while healing a cleaning piercing. If you do take a bath make sure the water is not too hot, so you don’t scald the delicate skin around your healing piercing, and be sure to clean the tub prior to use. You should rinse your piercings well and pat dry after a bath.
  • Unfortunately there is A TON of misinformation and outdated information available regarding piercing on the internet! The piercing industry is still a rather new industry, with its mainstream popularity growing in the late 1990s; so the information we have regarding healing and aftercare is also still new! We’ve found the most success in healing piercings with the aftercare routine that we currently suggest to clients. If you have any questions about healing, the products we recommend, or anything else, please reach out to your piercer, we are happy to help!

   

  What is Normal while healing a piercing?

  • Discoloration: reddish, brownish, pinkish, or purplish; can remain for many months on navel, surface, and other piercings.
  • Swelling/Induration: localized; may be significant with oral piercings such as the lip or tongue, and usually lasts for several days following the initial piercing.
  • Excretion: exudate of interstitial fluid, dead cells, etc. that forms a small amount of crystalline-appearing crust at the openings of the piercing; should not be copious, malodorous, or green.

   

  Troubleshooting your piercing-

  If you believe you may have an infection we recommend reaching out to a medical professional immediately. Signs of infection include: Severe redness, swelling or tenderness at the procedure site, red streaks going from procedure site towards the heart, elevated body temperature, purulent drainage from the site. Discharge from the site may be green/yellow and have a foul odor.

  ●      INAPPROPRIATE AFTERCARE IS THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF A DISTRESSED PIERCING. CHANGING AFTERCARE OR JEWELRY SIZE/STYLE/MATERIAL MOST OFTEN RESOLVES PROBLEMS.

  • When piercings are properly performed and cared for, complications such as irritation or allergy are far more common than infection.
  • Even momentary removal of jewelry from a piercing can result in rapid closure of the channel, and make reinsertion difficult or impossible. Everyone’s bodies heal at different rates, so removing your piercing always leaves you open to the possibility of the hold closing, even when they are established piercings that have been healed for years. If you need to remove your jewelry and you would like to keep the piercing open we would recommend that you insert another piece of jewelry or something like a retainer, to keep the piercing open until you decide to put the jewelry back in.
  • If you have removed your jewelry and are struggling to re-insert it yourself you can always book a ‘jewelry insertion’ appointment so that a piercer can assist you in re-inserting the jewelry. Keep in mind that we cannot use outside jewelry, per state law, so the jewelry must have been purchased from The Exotic Body and still be in a good enough condition that we feel safe re-using the piece.

   

  • Is my piercing rejecting?
    • If the jewelry moves closer to the surface or the tissue gets narrower between the openings of a piercing, this is termed “migration.” If the piercing migrates past a point of remaining viable or comes all the way to the surface, this is termed “rejection.” A body piercing should be abandoned if the tissue between the entry and exit progressively gets smaller or thinner over time plus any of the following:
  • The skin between the openings is flaking or peeling, red or inflamed, and/or hard and calloused-looking
  • There is 1/4” of tissue or less between the openings
  • Just a thin filament of nearly transparent tissue is left, and the jewelry can be seen through the skin

  Healing Times-

  Healing times are an estimate, your body may heal faster or slower due to a number of personal factors and the effort you put into caring for your piercing and your body. Always remember that piercings heal from the inside out, so while a piercing may seem fully healed on the outside, we need to allow plenty of time for our bodies to do the work on the inside too!

  If you would like to change a stud/barbel or other piece of jewelry that you were initially pierced with to a ring/hoop you must be outside of the projected healing window. Changing a piercing to a ring too early can result in ripping, tearing, and other damage to the piercing site that could lead to you losing the piercing.

  Earlobe- 8-12 weeks

  Cartilage- 6-9 months

  Industrial- 9 months

  Eyebrow- 6-12 weeks

  Bridge- 6-12 weeks

  Lip- 3-6 months

  Nostril- 3-6 months

  Septum- 4 weeks

  Smiley- 6-12 weeks

  Tongue- 8-12 weeks

  Surface/Dermal- 6-12 weeks

  Navel- 6-9 months

  Nipple- 3-6 Months

  Genital- 4-12 weeks

  When should I downsize?

  We pierce most piercings with a longer length backing than most people will want to wear in their healed piercings to accommodate for swelling that typically happens with a fresh piercing, and we recommend clients come in to downsize their backings once the initial swelling period is over, which is typically 6-8 weeks from the initial piercing. The most important thing we look for when downsizing a client is the health of the piercing. We need to see that the piercing is past the first stage of healing so we are looking for the skin around the piercing to be back to normal (no longer shiny or red), decreased discharge and buildup of biological materials, and decreased swelling at the piercing site for a number of days, not just a day or two. If you are unsure if you’re ready to downsize you can always send us some photos via email or Instagram of the piercings so that we can take a look and advise on whether you should come in or wait a bit longer.

   

  What does “downsizing” mean? Why is it necessary?

  We start most piercings out with a larger piece of jewelry than most clients will want to wear in their healed piercings, to accommodate for swelling that occurs with a fresh piercing. After about 6 weeks, once initial swelling is down for a period of days, you should come in to change the jewelry to a more appropriate size to prevent the piercing healing at an angle, snagging the larger jewelry, etc.

   

  Why can’t I start out my piercing with a ring?

  With the exception of a few piercings (like septum and daith piercings) we start all of our piercings off with a stud. Studs are generally considered easier to heal with than rings for several reasons. Most piercings will need to start with a larger size jewelry than most clients will wear in their healed piercings, the ring sizes we would need to use to accommodate swelling are large enough that they have a much higher tendency to get caught and snagged during daily wear. Rings also apply pressure to two spots on the piercings, instead of a single pressure point that is created with a stud style.